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Green Bay - If 2007 is to be remembered as the draft for character in the National Football League, linebacker Rory Johnson will go down as one of the big losers.
Packers/NFL
Photo/AP
The Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions were the only teams to express interest in Rory Johnson (left) after the draft. He accepted a two-year deal from the Packers.
I'm aggressive, hard-nosed and love going to the ball. I just play hard. I like earning my stuff better than it getting handed to me.
- Rory Johnson
Thirty-two linebackers were selected in the seven rounds but only seven had a faster 40-yard dash time than Johnson. With a 4.58-second clocking and a 38-inch vertical jump, he stood out athletically from most of the crowd.
But when the 18-hour 5-minute draft ground to a halt late Sunday afternoon, Johnson was without a job. However, he wasn't caught by surprise.
On Monday, Johnson admitted that he failed one test for marijuana during his two years at Hinds College, a two-year school in Mississippi. He also admitted that he failed one test for marijuana during his only season at the University of Mississippi.
"It was a long, wasted weekend," Johnson said. "I knew I'd probably be a later round but I didn't think I was going to be a free agent."
The Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions were the only teams to express interest in Johnson after the draft. He took a two-year deal from the Packers that contained a $2,500 signing bonus.
"We just felt like it was OK to take a chance as a free agent," general manager Ted Thompson said. "We just feel like the risk there is OK."
Johnson, a third-year junior, said he no longer used marijuana.
"Yeah, I stopped," he said. "I have no choice if I want to do what I love doing. I believe it was just a learning step."
Johnson, who turned 21 last month, said he was aware that as long as he remained in the NFL he would be subjected to random drug testing. If Johnson runs afoul of the substance-abuse policy, the Packers would have egg on their face for signing him and Johnson's career would be finished.
"I'm just happy and thankful that they did give me a chance," said Johnson, whose only tie to Green Bay is assistant special teams coach Shawn Slocum, the Rebels' linebackers coach in 2005. "For him to even give me a shot like this, I'm just very grateful for it."
Johnson, 6 feet and 240 pounds, played two seasons in junior college but wasn't enrolled at Ole Miss until last August. He started seven of 12 games on the weak side next to middle linebacker Patrick Willis, the 11th pick in the draft. He also put his hand down as an end on passing downs.
In good-natured fashion, Johnson wouldn't concede that Willis was a better player than him. And he expressed confidence that he would make the Packers' 53-man roster.
"I'm aggressive, hard-nosed and love going to the ball," he said. "I just play hard. I like earning my stuff better than it getting handed to me."
Johnson finished with 94 tackles (three for loss), one-half sack and five turnover plays. At the combine, he scored 18 on the Wonderlic intelligence test.
Clearly, Johnson is the most recognized player among the seven undrafted free agents known to have agreed to terms with the Packers. Thompson expects to sign eight or nine.
"We didn't intend to but somehow we got 11 picks this time," Thompson said. "That cuts down on the free agency thing. If you draft seven, naturally there would be more."
Packers/NFL
Photo/AP
The Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions were the only teams to express interest in Rory Johnson (left) after the draft. He accepted a two-year deal from the Packers.
I'm aggressive, hard-nosed and love going to the ball. I just play hard. I like earning my stuff better than it getting handed to me.
- Rory Johnson
Thirty-two linebackers were selected in the seven rounds but only seven had a faster 40-yard dash time than Johnson. With a 4.58-second clocking and a 38-inch vertical jump, he stood out athletically from most of the crowd.
But when the 18-hour 5-minute draft ground to a halt late Sunday afternoon, Johnson was without a job. However, he wasn't caught by surprise.
On Monday, Johnson admitted that he failed one test for marijuana during his two years at Hinds College, a two-year school in Mississippi. He also admitted that he failed one test for marijuana during his only season at the University of Mississippi.
"It was a long, wasted weekend," Johnson said. "I knew I'd probably be a later round but I didn't think I was going to be a free agent."
The Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions were the only teams to express interest in Johnson after the draft. He took a two-year deal from the Packers that contained a $2,500 signing bonus.
"We just felt like it was OK to take a chance as a free agent," general manager Ted Thompson said. "We just feel like the risk there is OK."
Johnson, a third-year junior, said he no longer used marijuana.
"Yeah, I stopped," he said. "I have no choice if I want to do what I love doing. I believe it was just a learning step."
Johnson, who turned 21 last month, said he was aware that as long as he remained in the NFL he would be subjected to random drug testing. If Johnson runs afoul of the substance-abuse policy, the Packers would have egg on their face for signing him and Johnson's career would be finished.
"I'm just happy and thankful that they did give me a chance," said Johnson, whose only tie to Green Bay is assistant special teams coach Shawn Slocum, the Rebels' linebackers coach in 2005. "For him to even give me a shot like this, I'm just very grateful for it."
Johnson, 6 feet and 240 pounds, played two seasons in junior college but wasn't enrolled at Ole Miss until last August. He started seven of 12 games on the weak side next to middle linebacker Patrick Willis, the 11th pick in the draft. He also put his hand down as an end on passing downs.
In good-natured fashion, Johnson wouldn't concede that Willis was a better player than him. And he expressed confidence that he would make the Packers' 53-man roster.
"I'm aggressive, hard-nosed and love going to the ball," he said. "I just play hard. I like earning my stuff better than it getting handed to me."
Johnson finished with 94 tackles (three for loss), one-half sack and five turnover plays. At the combine, he scored 18 on the Wonderlic intelligence test.
Clearly, Johnson is the most recognized player among the seven undrafted free agents known to have agreed to terms with the Packers. Thompson expects to sign eight or nine.
"We didn't intend to but somehow we got 11 picks this time," Thompson said. "That cuts down on the free agency thing. If you draft seven, naturally there would be more."
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